Five-star Newcastle kickstart campaign with impressive win over Aston Villa
Newcastle 5 Aston Villa 1
The names and faces are all basically the same but Eddie Howe appears to have performed a spot of summer alchemy - transforming his grinders into a 21st century version of Kevin Keegan's entertainers.
Aston Villa have been tipped to emulate the Geordies' gate-crashing of the top four last season, but Unai Emery's men were given a harsh lesson in what's required to compete at the very sharp end of the Premier League as they were blown away at St James' Park.
Two sublime finishes from Alexander Isak, a debut goal from Sandro Tonali and late strikes from substitutes Callum WIlson and Harvey Barnes wrapped up a stunning opening game victory. The hosts lacked a little of the defensive solidity which under-pinned their impressive performances in the last campaign, but they more than made amends at the other end.
On this early evidence, it promises to be a thriller of a campaign capable of evoking King Kev's attack at all costs 90s heroes. Hold onto your hats for another memorable season on Tyneside.
A breathless opening quarter of an hour saw the hosts twice take the lead as they broke the deadlock just six minutes in, Tonali making the perfect start to his Premier League debut as the Italian midfielder slid in to volley home an Anthony Gordon cross from close range.
The advantage lasted only five minutes before France forward Moussa Diaby added his name to the debutant goalscorers when Villa's record signing was given time and space to find the corner of the net when Oli Watkins flicked on a Lucas Digne centre from the left.
Newcastle quickly re-established their lead following a lengthy VAR check for offside after Isak stretched to volley in a Sven Botman knockback from Tonali's lofted ball into
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